Defenseman commits to UVM

A young defenseman in the Alberta Junior Hockey League has announced his commitment to join the University of Vermont men’s hockey program.

Brinson Pasichnuk, 17, of the Bonnyville Pontiacs said via his Twitter account @brindogboy, “Very excited to announce my commitment to the university of vermont #catamounts”.

Pasichnuk, a native of Bonnyville, Alberta, is a 5-foot-10, 175-pound, left-shooting defenseman who was a finalist for the AJHL rookie of the year award last season when he collected eight goals, 29 points and 47 penalty minutes in 56 games. He added a goal, seven points and 35 penalty minutes in 15 playoff games. He was named the Pontiacs’ top rookie.

In 2013-14, Pasichnuk contributed one assist in two games with the Pontiacs but had six goals, 18 points and 20 penalty minutes in 35 games for the Lloydminster Bobcats Midget AAA team. He is scheduled to play with Bonnyville this winter with a possible September 2016 arrival on the UVM campus.

On the Pontiacs’ web site, Bonnyville head coach and general manager Rick Swan said, “Brinson is going to be a player without question. His compete is elite and his development as a player over the year during last season is a real testament of his coachability, his character to ‘want to be a hockey player’, and the potential that he has moving forward. He is a great athlete and young man who succeeds at anything he does.”

Earlier this month, forward Ryley Risling of Medicine Hat, Alberta, announced his commitment to the Catamounts, posting on his Twitter account @RyleyRisling, “Pround to announce my commitment to the University of Vermont. Thanks to everyone who has helped me to this along the way. #gocatamounts”.

A 19-year-old left wing for the Waterloo Black Hawks of the USHL this year, the 6-2, 194-pound 19-year-old scored 26 goals and 20 assists in 54 games for the Canmore Eagles of the AJHL last season. In 2013-14, he picked up five goals and 10 points in 38 games for Canmore. He is expected to become a Catamount in 2016.

Via the Canmore web site, Eagles general manager and coach Andrew Milne said of Risling, “The Catamounts are getting a big strong forward who certainly knows how to put the puck in the net.”

UVM head coach Kevin Sneddon cannot comment on a recruit until the student-athlete has signed an NCAA letter of intent and been admitted by the university.

This story was first published on Sept. 9. 2015. Correspondent Ted Ryan covers UVM hockey for The Burlington Free Press. Contact him at TedRyanVT@aol.com and follow him on Twitter at @TedRyanVT.